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It was October in New York when I attended an aromatherapy class by Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt. Since the subject of discussion – Helichrysum italicum, also known as Everlasting or ImmortelleEssential Oil – was a rare and costly oil, I did not consider it important to focus much on its benefits.
It wasn’t long before my personal experiences made me realize the importance of this healing oil and I proceeded to research its versatile healing properties. Since then, I have been a firm believer and promoter of this therapeutic oil and many of my clients have experienced its goodness too.

My personal experience

It was a burn like no other, which I received on the middle finger of my left hand while handling a cast iron baking tray without a glove. The excruciating pain that radiated through my hand was too much to bear and dipping my hand deep in iced water did not help either. Although my first reaction was to apply lavender neat on the burn, it did not provide much relief. It was too late in the night to think straight, and then it finally hit me – I asked my worried husband to get me the bottle of Helichrysum oil, and voila! Like magic, the pain was gone in a couple of seconds, and the burn did not leave even the slightest scar behind.

What the experts say

I enjoy researching the properties of essential oils, and now I had a new subject. It gives me great pleasure to share some nuggets of what I have been collecting. Starting with the name, the word Helichrysum comes from the Greek helios = sun and chrysos = gold, the oil has proven to be as powerful as the sun, and as valuable as gold, at least to me.
Dr. Schnaubelt attests to its great antiseptic powers without the pain and burning generally associated with disinfectants. He also advocates its use to reduce pain and swelling, saying that

“Helichrysum italicum works for all conditions in which inflamed tissue needs to be calmed down and regenerated”. [1]

For instance, a helpful recipe for relief from painful hemorrhoids, blend 1 oz Jojoba oil, 10 drops Cypress, 12 drops Helichrysum and 7 drops Niaouli applied to the affected area twice in a day.
Eliane Zimmerman furthers these therapeutic uses, saying “One of the components is Beta-Diones which is not toxic for people and has anticoagulant properties, making it very effective for the treatment of hematomas.”[2]
Further, I learned that the plant from which this is oil is extracted is actually an aromatic shrub, native to the Mediterranean area, Italy, Spain, Dalmatia and Corsica. What I found most interesting, however, in the writings of Gabriel Mojay, is its effect on emotions, when there is an enduring anger, bitterness or resentment.

“Everlasting oil’s capacity to dissolve clots give it on a subtle level, the power to break through the deepest, most “stuck” of negative emotions.” [3]